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#63978 - 02/05/07 10:45 AM Center Channel Speaker?
AARONMADLER Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 12/12/06
Posts: 169
Loc: Needham, MA
I know that this is a completely subjective question and that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", but I was wondering what might be a great center channel speaker to consider?

Are there any favorites out there? I would love to hear from my fellow outlaws.

Thank you in advance, Aaron
_________________________
Outlaw 990/7700, Oppo DV-981HD, Gallo S.A.Amp, Nucleus Ref. 3.1, AV C, AV M, TR-2, Paradigm Atom, Pioneer PDP-4214HD, Mtrola DCT6200/2005

Outlaw 990, Aragon 8008X3, 8008, Denon 3930CI, Dahlquist DQ20, Outlaw LFM-1+, Paradigm Atom, Mtrola DCT3416 I

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#63979 - 02/05/07 10:59 AM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
gonk Offline
Desperado

Registered: 03/21/01
Posts: 14054
Loc: Memphis, TN USA
What mains will you be using this center with? Matching speakers across the front soundstage is always a good place to start.
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gonk
HT Basics | HDMI FAQ | Pics | Remote Files | Art Show
Reviews: Index | 990 | speakers | BDP-93

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#63980 - 02/05/07 01:33 PM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
AARONMADLER Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 12/12/06
Posts: 169
Loc: Needham, MA
Hello Gonk - I will be using Dahlquist DQ20 mains. They are probably 20+ years old, but still sound great.
_________________________
Outlaw 990/7700, Oppo DV-981HD, Gallo S.A.Amp, Nucleus Ref. 3.1, AV C, AV M, TR-2, Paradigm Atom, Pioneer PDP-4214HD, Mtrola DCT6200/2005

Outlaw 990, Aragon 8008X3, 8008, Denon 3930CI, Dahlquist DQ20, Outlaw LFM-1+, Paradigm Atom, Mtrola DCT3416 I

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#63981 - 02/05/07 06:28 PM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
Dog_lover Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 11/28/05
Posts: 53
Loc: Portland, OR
I am very happy with my Martin Logan Vignette. I use ML Mosiacs for mains and will soon be upgrading to the ML Vistas but for a good center I find the Vignette a great choice.
_________________________
MY SYSTEM: Outlaw 7500, McIntosh MC-252, MartinLogan Vantage (2), Definitive Technology BP7600 (4), Golden Ear SS-3 (1)

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#63982 - 02/05/07 07:41 PM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
AARONMADLER Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 12/12/06
Posts: 169
Loc: Needham, MA
Thanks Dog_lover.
_________________________
Outlaw 990/7700, Oppo DV-981HD, Gallo S.A.Amp, Nucleus Ref. 3.1, AV C, AV M, TR-2, Paradigm Atom, Pioneer PDP-4214HD, Mtrola DCT6200/2005

Outlaw 990, Aragon 8008X3, 8008, Denon 3930CI, Dahlquist DQ20, Outlaw LFM-1+, Paradigm Atom, Mtrola DCT3416 I

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#63983 - 02/05/07 07:44 PM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
Steve0616 Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 05/22/06
Posts: 23
I have a pair of vintage JBL L100Ts mains and found a pair of JBL L20Ts off of eBay to use as centers. The bookshelf sized 20s were two way speakers using the same midrange and tweeters as the 100s. I tried using just one, and both as center speakers, and could not hear any degradation in sound using both. Since my TV is a big Mit 70" rear screen, the two speakers placed side by side horizonally look better anyway. If Dahlquist made bookshelfs using the same tweeter, and midrange, you be able to get a good match going that way.

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#63984 - 02/05/07 07:52 PM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
Steve0616 Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 05/22/06
Posts: 23
Oops, I forgot about something....magnetic shielding may be an issue; it wasn't in mine.

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#63985 - 02/05/07 08:18 PM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
Lizard King Offline
Desperado

Registered: 08/30/06
Posts: 425
Loc: NY
Ascend Acoustics 340C SE!
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Outlaw 1070, Anthem MCA5 II amp.
Sony Ps3
Alon 2 Mk2 Loudspeakers
HSU VTF-2 Mk2 sub x2
VAC PA100/100 Tube Amp
ARC SP16-L tube Preamp
Audio Note Dac 2.1 "B" signature
Furutech E-TP80,
Ascend HTM-200, 340C
Sony KDS-55A2020

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#63986 - 02/05/07 09:32 PM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
knownalien Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 10/23/05
Posts: 96
my sig.

the center is the most important speaker in movie watching,
_________________________
Outlaw 990 PreAmp
Outlaw 7500 5 Channel Amp
Two Outlaw 2200 M-Block Amps - for the Surrounds
Oppo OPPO DV-981
Polk LSi15 Fronts
Polk LSiC Center
Polk LSi9 Surrounds
SVS PC-Plus 20-39 (newest addition down to 16hz) Subwoofer
Sony KDF-50WE655 50" LCD

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#63987 - 02/05/07 10:42 PM Re: Center Channel Speaker?
Demus Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 01/26/06
Posts: 16
Loc: New York
AARONMADLER,

As you pointed out, this is a highly subjective issue. Nevertheless, since your speakers are 20 years old, or so, I would look for a center speaker that has a similar voicing as your main speakers. That being said, there are people who believe that the center speaker is the most important speaker where movie watch is concerned. That I believe, depends on how accurate/anal you want to be. I do subscribe to this philosophy myself.

In any event, I believe that the Model 990 has the ability to spead some of the center channel information to the fronts by going into the "Surround Config" setting and changing the "Center Width".

Hope this helps.
_________________________
My System:
Sony KDS-55A2020
Outlaw Model 990
Krell KAV-500
Oppo DV-981HD
Philips DVDR-3400
SVS 20-39CS
Parasound HCA-2003
Dish VIP-622 DVR
Monster HTS-3500
Von Schweikert VR-2000/LCR-20
PSB Century 400i

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